INTRODUCTION TO PART II. 



STARTING AN APIARY. 



In apiculture, as in all other pursuits, it is all-important to 

 make a good beginning. This demands preparation on the 

 part of the apiarist, the procuring of bees, and location of the 

 apiary. 



PEEPAEATION. 



Before starting in the business, the prospective bee-keeper 

 should inform himself in the art. 



READ A GOOD MANUAL. 



To do this, he should procure some good manual, and 

 thoroughly study, especially that portion which treats of the 

 practical part of the business. If accustomed to read, think 

 and study, he should carefully read the -whole work, but, 

 otherwise, he will avoid confusion by only studying the meth- 

 ods of practice, leaving the principles and science to strengthen, 

 and be strengthened by, his experience. Unless a student, 

 he had better not take a journal till he begins the actual 

 work, as so much unclassified information, without any expe- 

 rience to correct, .arrange, and select, will but mystify. For 

 the same reason, he may well be content with reading a single 

 work, till experience, and a thorough study of this one, make 

 him more able to discriminate ; and the same reasoning will 

 preclude his taking more than one bee-periodical, until he has 

 had at least a year's actual experience. 



VISIT SOME APIAKIST. 



In this work of self-preparation, he will find great aid in 

 visiting the nearest successful and intelligent apiarist. If 

 successful, such a one will have a reputation ; if intelligent, 

 he will take the journals, and will show by his conversation that 

 he knows the methods and views of his brother apiarists, and, 

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